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Monthly Archives: April 2017

The cross-quarter May Day begins our week which is full of astronomical sights. At the end of the week, look for the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower. In between, why not check out From Lightsabers to Tricorders on May the 4th at the planetarium, or Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe: Exoplanets on May 5th. Here is […]

Taurus the Bull is setting shortly after the Sun and this week catch a young crescent Moon with Mars in this fading winter constellation. Taurus is right at the horizon and look for its “V” shaped Hyades right after sunset in the western sky. If you have a telescope, a special event to see on […]

Saturday, April 22 marks Earth Day which is a national day to focus on the environment, climate change, and sustainability. We need this day now more than ever, as our global climate has been warming and numerous species of bees and animals are disappearing at alarming rates. I’m proud to say that I hail from […]

This week we have the Lyrid Meteor Shower and nice view of Venus and a crescent Moon on Sunday morning.. While the meteor shower may not bring flowers, it is a nice event to check out. Here is your guide to the sky for April 17 to 23, 2017… Sun – Earth – Moon Sunrise […]

The holiday of Easter is observed throughout the Christian world annually but the date shifts every year due to the way the holiday is calculated – which is astronomical in nature. In most of the modern world, the Gregorian calendar is the standard international calendar and also is used by Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. […]

Venus climbs in the morning sky this week being a beacon in the morning sky before sunrise and there are some comets you can find with binoculars which are worth a look. The winter constellations are fading so get a last look. Here is your guide to the sky for April 10 to15, 2017… Planets […]

Cawing along with Corvus and two stationary planets, and a binocular comet make this a fun week ahead stargazing. Here is your guide to the sky for April 2 to 8, 2017… Sun – Earth – Moon Sunrise this week is at 6:08 am and sunset at 7:08 pm. First Quarter Moon takes place on […]

Shawn Laatsch

Shawn Laatsch is the director of the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine. He started his astronomy education career in 1984 and has directed planetariums in university and science center facilities, taught undergraduate astronomy courses, and given numerous lectures around the globe. He serves as President (2017 & 2018) of the International Planetarium Society, Inc. the world’s largest organization of planetarium professionals. Shawn has a passion for sharing astronomy and stargazing with people of all ages.